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    • Music Theory

    Music Theory Courses Online

    Learn music theory for a deeper understanding of music. Study scales, chords, rhythm, and harmony.

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    Explore the Music Theory Course Catalog

    • B

      Berklee

      Copyright Law in the Music Business

      Skills you'll gain: Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Contract Review, Regulatory Compliance, Asset Protection, Decision Making, Analysis

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      691 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of Toronto

      Communication Strategies for a Virtual Age

      Skills you'll gain: Meeting Facilitation, Presentations, Persuasive Communication, Communication, Influencing, Verbal Communication Skills, Collaboration, Team Building, Interpersonal Communications, Business Communication, Virtual Teams, Communication Strategies, Public Speaking, Professional Development, Non-Verbal Communication, Strategic Communication, Rapport Building, Constructive Feedback, Empathy, Active Listening

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.3K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Michigan

      Introduction to HTML5

      Skills you'll gain: Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Web Design, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Web Design and Development, Usability, Semantic Web, Cloud Hosting, Web Servers, Data Validation

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      28K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free
      Y

      Yale University

      Music and Social Action

      Skills you'll gain: Aesthetics, Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, Education and Training, Social Justice, Social Studies, Pedagogy, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies, Teaching, Public Affairs, Culture, Cultural Diversity, Socioeconomics, Community Development, Policy Analysis, Creativity, Advocacy, Political Sciences

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      178 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Game Design: Art and Concepts

      Skills you'll gain: Prototyping, Conceptual Design, Storytelling, Software Design Documents, Ideation, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Design, Virtual Environment, Technical Design, Computer Graphics, Storyboarding, Usability Testing, User Story, Graphic and Visual Design, Multimedia, Mockups, Content Creation, Aesthetics, Design Research, Experience Design

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.1K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Geneva

      Investment Management

      Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management, Wealth Management, Risk Management, Investment Management, Financial Market, Business Risk Management, Capital Markets, Investments, Market Liquidity, Asset Management, Performance Measurement, Market Dynamics, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Financial Planning, Derivatives, Finance, Equities, Financial Management, Performance Analysis, Business Ethics

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      7.6K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • T

      The Museum of Modern Art

      Seeing Through Photographs

      Skills you'll gain: Culture, Media and Communications, Social Studies, Liberal Arts, Cultural Diversity, Multimedia, Journalism, Storytelling, Research, Sociology, Creativity

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.4K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • B

      Berklee

      Introduction to Ableton Live

      Skills you'll gain: File Management, Media Production, Multimedia, Automation, Live Streaming, Software Installation, Creativity, Performance Testing, Computer Programming

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.1K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • G

      Google

      Create High-Fidelity Designs and Prototypes in Figma

      Skills you'll gain: Figma (Design Software), Usability Testing, Design Reviews, Mockups, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, User Experience Design, Prototyping, User Centered Design, User Interface (UI) Design, Design Elements And Principles, Typography, Color Theory

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.6K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • G

      Google Cloud

      Machine Learning on Google Cloud

      Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Google Cloud Platform, Generative AI, Tensorflow, Keras (Neural Network Library), MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Cloud Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Data Pipelines, Data Management, Data Governance, Workflow Management, Artificial Intelligence, Application Deployment, Deep Learning, Cloud Solutions, Cloud Development, Applied Machine Learning, Machine Learning, Predictive Modeling

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.6K reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Visual Elements of User Interface Design

      Skills you'll gain: User Interface (UI) Design, Graphic and Visual Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Web Design, Design Elements And Principles, Human Computer Interaction, Responsive Web Design, Mockups, Typography, UI Components, Interaction Design

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      6.3K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • W

      Wesleyan University

      Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot

      Skills you'll gain: Editing, Storytelling, Storyboarding, Content Creation, Writing

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.9K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    Music Theory learners also search

    Music
    Music Business
    Music Technology
    Music History
    Classical Music
    Music Production
    Piano Theory
    Media
    1…101112…144

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular music theory courses

    • Copyright Law in the Music Business: Berklee
    • Communication Strategies for a Virtual Age: University of Toronto
    • Introduction to HTML5: University of Michigan
    • Music and Social Action: Yale University
    • Game Design: Art and Concepts: California Institute of the Arts
    • Investment Management: University of Geneva
    • Seeing Through Photographs: The Museum of Modern Art
    • Introduction to Ableton Live: Berklee
    • Create High-Fidelity Designs and Prototypes in Figma: Google
    • Machine Learning on Google Cloud: Google Cloud

    Frequently Asked Questions about Music Theory

    Understanding why you want to learn music theory, whether to improve your musical skills, compose music, or understand music better, will keep you motivated. Regular practice, including listening and analyzing music, can help solidify concepts. Join online communities like music forums or local groups for support and insight. Work on real projects such as composing or analyzing pieces of music. A great starting point is Fundamentals of Music Theory by The University of Edinburgh on Coursera.‎

    Coursera has some great free music theory courses, such as Edinburgh Music Theory, Audio Signal Processing and The Music and Life of Beethoven. These online classes can help you deepen your understanding of music theory, audio technology and Beethoven's rich musical legacy.‎

    If you are new to music theory, Berklee's Musicianship Specialization is the perfect place to start. It offers courses such as Music Theory, Play Guitar, Piano Techniques for Modern Music, and Guitar Theory that can help you get a great foundation in music theory and unlock your musical potential.‎

    For those looking to learn more advanced music theory, Melodic Forms and Simple Harmony, Piano Scales for Modern Music, Beethoven's Piano Sonatas, The Blues and Jazz Improvisation courses are excellent resources to expand your musical knowledge!‎

    Music theory is the set of rules that govern how to create and communicate music. You can think of music theory as the equivalent of grammar when it comes to language. The fundamentals of melody, rhythm, and harmony are the main elements of music theory. Many of the skills you need to play an instrument or sing are part of music theory as well—elements like notes, chords, scales, keys, and tempo. Music theory also explains the qualities that make a song or piece of music good, such as pitch, tone, dynamics, and timbre.‎

    A knowledge of music theory can help you become a better singer, musician, songwriter, or performer. It’s true that you can write a quality song or compose a compelling piece of music with no understanding of music theory whatsoever, but knowing the logic behind good music helps you to create works listeners will enjoy. Music theory isn’t a set of hard and fast rules you must obey every time, but it helps you communicate and connect better with the music that you create. Understanding music theory also makes it easier to conquer more complex musical forms and styles.‎

    If you’re a professional musician or aspire to be one, having a knowledge of music theory can help you play pieces and sing songs better. You’ll also compose better songs or works when you understand how music theory works. Music theory also comes in handy if you’re teaching music because you can impart your knowledge to your students and help them succeed. Even if you don’t play music professionally, you can benefit from knowing music theory because it helps you think strategically, and making music for fun spurs your creativity as well, both of which can enhance any career you have.‎

    Music theory is a broad discipline, but online courses on Coursera can help you learn it with the flexibility that fits your lifestyle. You’ll have access to information that can help you gain a foothold in the concepts and rules that govern music theory, and you’ll also have the opportunity to discover practical applications that can help you compose and perform music more effectively. As a professional musician looking to take your career to the next level or a living room performer who wants to hone your skills, online courses on Coursera provide resources that can help you attain the knowledge you need to make music with greater confidence.‎

    Online Music Theory courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Music Theory skills. Choose from a wide range of Music Theory courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

    When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Music Theory, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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